Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-03-19

daylight, but unfortunately were dis
covered by the Comanches, 50 that tie
Indians had time TO make break, All
severa Of them cot into the ravines aud
brush. Carson's party went to work !
with q will, killing indiscrlminatcly
bucks, squaws, and papooses. One Of
the avengers, Doc Reed, singled olt the
Indian who was dragging of the cap
tive Mrs White by the hair Of the head,
in direction different from that the
other redskins were taking, thinking,
doubtless, he naj .ht be able to escape
unseen with his victim. Tie hapless
womans body was terribly bruised
well as bIstered by sunburns. Com
pletcly at the mercy Of the brawney saw
age, sAe on hearln, the yell OF the
white men, as they dashed in to the at
tack, fell down aud was being dragged
off in the manner described. When
Reed discovered the situation, he
Wheeled his horse and spurrcd him to-
ward the Indian, who shot an arrow in
to the 1leshy part Of the riders back as
his horse, being somewhat IN
manageable, passed him. But
refining him up finally, and
Just as the Comanchc was about to let
slip another arrow at him, r .el drew
steady bead on him with large Colts
revolver, and, utt-rlnga a piercing death
YELL the savage fell on the ground with
q bullet in his brain Reel told me the
Isdian's yell rang in his ears for months
aftcrwarI. His killing the Comanche,
however, prompt as it was, did not, un
fortunately, save the captive, Mrs.
White. Hastily dismountinc, Reed ran
to where she lay, only to find her gasp
in death, her bosom pierced by sew
cral arrows \ more pitiable sight had
never been locked on in all the horrid
! scenes of Indian warfare. Both the ser
want girl and the child were carried off
! by some Indians who were fortunate
enough to escape and were found the
! year following in the hands Of friendly
tribe, who had purchased them from the
Comanches and brought them to trad
! ing post on the Red River. Mrs. White
was buried near the place where she died,
Carson's men erecting cairn over the
! grave TO prevent the wolves and coyotes
| from dcvouring the remains That was
a terrible fight When Reed drew the
arrow from his back, after finding the
woman he had periled his life to rescue
was past all hope, he called to his
comrades to give up the chase Of the fly
/ ing Indians. Some. Of them returned
with boody hands, full Of redskins
scatps. Many of Carson's men were
half breeds, cross between French and
Indian, and quite as savage as the Ia
.dians they warrcd against, taking also
the same pleasure in ghastly trophies as
their enemies did. Some of the Co
manche squaws threw their papooses
into the ravincs and brush, hoping to
make their escape and to return AMI re-
gain thsir offspring; but the half breeds
caught these papooses up by the heels
and dashed their brains out against the
stones They considered this merci-
full act, in way. The children would
have starved to death or been eaten by
the coyotes. 50 they concluded it was
better 20 put them out Of misery at once
o., perhaps, they thought with the Old
Indian fighter, Gen. kearnv, who favored
policy Of cNtermation. Such was the
daring but unsuccessful attempt by Car
son to rescue the white captives. The
affair is still fresh in the memory Of the
Old men, who can vouch for the truth
fulness Of the story Of Kit Cars on's ride
and the vengeance he took on the Co
manches l. is only one of thousands Of
instances Of Carsons voluntary brave at
tempts to aid those whose inoxperience
or misfortune had brought them into the
power II the mercileSs savage. .'-.Sar
Francisco Gail.